The Guardian's Keeper (The Guardian Trilogy, Book 1) (7 page)

“Nikoli,”
Claire whispered, dumbfounded.

“
We need to get back to the table, Joyce will be back soon,” Nikoli explained with a resolute expression on his chiseled face. “We need to talk about our plans”. He turned and headed for the kitchen, and Claire followed.

Nikoli held her chair out for her, gesturing for Claire to sit. He sat next to her as he had the night before, instead of across from her. Neither spoke
, busying themselves playing with their coffee cups and spoons to avoid looking at each other.

Claire was first to break the uncomfortable s
ilence. “Ravish me til the end of time?” she grinned at Nikoli to lighten the mood.

Nikoli chuckled, fi
nally looking at Claire again. “It’s not an unfair description,” he shrugged sheepishly.

Claire laughed, just as Jo
yce came back with the eggs.

“
Well, food’s up in a few minutes.” She bustled about the counter, cracking and beating eggs to scramble. “Did you tell her, Nikoli?” she inquired.

“
No, I hadn’t gotten there yet,” Nikoli replied.

Claire looked at him
expectantly.

“
Claire, we’re leaving soon for Europe. Now that I have you, and the Fang of Stavros we must travel to Hungary.”

“Hungary?” Claire sputtered. “
I’m not going to Hungary- for what? I’ve got things to do here, since my family is” Claire paused, gathering the strength to say it, “dead.”

“I know, but we can’t stay here.”
Nikoli shook his head. “The Myrmidons are hot on our trail; if they find you they’ll kill you. We need to get to Renka, she’ll know how to destroy the Fang.”

“Renka?
Who is Renka?”

“Renka,”
Joyce cut in, laying out plates of food, “is the Queen of the Gypsies. She has more power than the rest of the Gypsies put together. If anyone knows how dispose of that foul Fang once and for all it’ll be Renka. Eat up, now. You two have a journey ahead of you.” Joyce joined them at the table and dug in.

“
So she MIGHT know how to destroy the Fang permanently?” Claire asked hopefully.

“
Yes, she might,” Nikoli explained. “She is a reluctant ally of ours in this battle against Stavros and the Myrmidons. She detests vampires in general, but seeks to help destroy the Fang of Stavros in order to protect her own clan,” he continued. “She has strong magic, and knows things others have long forgotten. The Myrmidons have targeted her and her clan for destruction many times in the past. Stavros is out to destroy her as she is the one who stands to help us destroy the Fang and prevent his resurrection for good.”

“
So why does the Fang still exist, if this Renka can help destroy it?” Claire asked between mouthfuls of eggs and pancakes. She had no idea how hungry she had been until Joyce placed the plate in front of her.

“
Don’t forget we had lost the Keeper, and the Fang, until your grandfather’s passing,” Nicoli reminded her. “Renka and I have met before, but it has been almost 60 years since last I was able to Guard the Keeper. We must bring you and the Fang to her. She will advise us how to proceed from there.”

“
Can’t she just destroy it once we bring it to her?”

“
No, Claire, it’s not that simple. It can only be destroyed by one of the bloodline of Agacio, the shepherd who sacrificed himself to save Nikolai. That’s you.” Nikoli took a bite of his pancakes as his eyes danced teasingly. “Once we bring it to her? Does that mean you agree to go to Hungary?”

“
I don’t seem to have much choice in the matter,” Claire grumbled, scowling at Nikoli.

“
No honey, you really don’t,” Joyce interjected. “I mean, you could refuse to go, and stay here, but you can’t really stay here at the farm. You’d have to go on the run, with the Myrmidons after you constantly.”

Claire’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Tell me more about these Myrmidons,” Claire demanded. “I know they’re the vampires that Stavros turned before he drank the Gypsy blood that changed him and he controls them even though his body is dead. What are they like?”

Nikoli put his fork down, giv
ing Claire his full attention. “They’re evil, Claire. They might not have been before Stavros changed, but once he had control over them it no longer mattered who they once were. He can force any one of them to do his bidding at any time as long as it helps his goal of reanimating.” He thought for a moment. “There were 26 Myrmidons originally when Stavros fell, we Guardians have eliminated 18 of them over the centuries, leaving eight to contend with these days.’

“
Can’t Stavros make the Myrmidons turn more to rebuild their numbers?”

“
No, Stavros can only control the vampires he sired directly, not any his Myrmidons sire themselves. It is one blessing on our side.”

“
I’m not sure any Myrmidons are a ‘blessing’,” Joyce snorted to herself. She turned to Nikoli. “The plane’s ready to go tomorrow morning. It’ll give you time to travel after the sun’s up and the Myrmidons have turned in for the day. Renka has been contacted and is expecting you in a few days’ time.” Nikoli nodded.

“
I don’t have any money for this,” Claire explained, suddenly embarrassed. “I can’t afford a trip to Europe.”

Joyce smiled at her kindly
. “No worries honey, it’s all set and paid for. One of the perks of having a Guardian is the deep pockets that come with him.’ She winked at Nikoli.

“
John was very successful in his endeavors over his 300 plus years,” Nikoli explained. “He left all his accumulated wealth to Joyce, who is generous enough to spare no expense in our pursuit to protect the Fang of Stavros from the Myrmidons and ultimately destroy it.”

“I’m richer than a Trump, dear,”
Joyce stage-whispered to Claire. “We don’t need a dime from you, just your Keeper lineage.” She rose from the table. “I’m going to tidy up in here, why don’t you two go outside? You can show Claire around the place, Nikoli,” she suggested. “The fresh air will do you both some good, and you’ll need your rest tonight.”

“
I’d be happy to,” Nikoli replied, his enthusiasm genuine. “But please Joyce, let me help you clean up.”

“
I’ve got it Nikoli, you two go explore. I’ll not have you two mussing up my kitchen, putting things where they don’t go.” Joyce shooed him away as she filled the sink to wash up.

“
Joyce, might I have a vase to put some flowers in?” Claire asked as she brought her plate to the sink.

“
Sure, I’ll leave one on the table for you for any flowers you find out there.” Joyce dismissed Claire and Nikoli with a wave of a soapy hand.

“Well, you want to see the Farm?”
Nikoli asked Claire, a twinkle in his eye.

“I’d love to,”
Claire replied, and she meant it.

Chapter 8

Nikoli and Claire
wandered out the back door, past the old barn, to the fields. They strolled on the edge of the fields in comfortable silence, lost in their own thoughts. Claire let Nikoli lead the way.

“
Do you like waterfalls?” Nikoli asked casually.

“
I guess so. I’ve never seen one except in pictures.” Claire shrugged. “Why?”

“
Then you will see one today.” Nikoli grinned at her. Claire smiled back, amazed how at ease she felt with this man she barely knew.

They continued on, heading for th
e back edge of the fields.

“
Can I ask you something?” Claire asked nervously.

“Of course, whatever you wish,”
Nikoli replied.

“
Were you being truthful? You can hear my heartbeat, feel my body heat increase…..all of that?” Claire couldn’t bring herself to ask him if he could smell when she was sexually aroused.

Nikoli’s step faltered, but o
nly for a second. “I will always be nothing but honest with you Claire. I have been honest with you from the moment we came together,” Nikoli replied with a look of concern. “All that I said is true.”

He’s right, Claire mused. He told me the truth when he kidnapped me, I just didn’t believe h
im.

“
And your pheromones, Claire,” Nikoli continued. “Like any other animal, aroused humans give off a distinct chemical scent signaling their willingness to mate. I smell them from women all the time, but their scents never entice me as yours does.”

Claire nodded, unsure of how to respond to that as bu
tterflies filled her stomach.

“
Come on, we’re almost to the path.” Nikoli pointed to a break in the edge of the forest. “The waterfall’s not far.” He paused a beat. “And Claire? Those pheromones of yours, their levels just spiked up again.” He gave her a mischievous grin.

“You have an unfair advantage,”
Claire complained as she blushed, the butterflies intensifying.

Inside the
shade of the forest path it was cool and smelled faintly of damp earth. Claire breathed it in, reveling in the natural beauty all around her. She and Nikoli walked side by side, enjoying the peace of the forest. The path became gradually steeper and full of boulders, making navigation more difficult.

Nikoli jumped onto a larger boulder in their path where it was too narrow for them to walk side by side. ‘Here, Claire.’ He offered her his hand to steady her through the roots and rocks. Claire grasped his hand, trying hard to ignore the warmth that flooded through her body from Ni
koli’s simple touch.

“Thanks.”
She waited for Nikoli to release her hand once she had passed the boulder but he did not. He climbed off the boulder, continuing to hold her hand as they moved on. Claire could hear the dull roar of the waterfall now, growing louder with every step. They rounded a corner in the path and there it was.

Claire released Nikoli’s hand and clapped her hands together with delight. The path ended there at the base of the waterfall right in front of the dark pool. The waterfall cascaded down the rocky face of the bluff, spewing mist into the air around it which created little rainbows when the
sunlight hit it just right.

“
It’s prettier than I imagined!” Claire exclaimed.

“I’m glad you like it,”
Nikoli murmured softly. He watched Claire intently, savoring her pure, simple joy. It was the first time he had seen her happy. He had seen angry, scared, devastated, playful, sulky and every emotion in between, but not happy until that moment.

“
Look! There are wildflowers here!” Claire pointed excitedly, approaching the small grassy shore. To Nikoli’s surprise she lay back on the grass and stretched out in a bed of clover.

“
C’mon.” She waved him over, patting the grass beside her. Nikoli complied, amazed by this Keeper of his.

Claire gazed up to the sky, watching the clouds pass, listening to the roar of the w
aterfall. She sighed.

“
Can’t we just stay here forever?” she asked Nikoli wistfully.

Nik
oli chuckled, low and throaty. “No, I’m afraid not. Joyce would come looking for us if we don’t show up for dinner.” He sat next to her, enjoying her quiet company. Eventually he studied the sky as well, but it was not the clouds he was evaluating.

“
We need to go Claire. It’s getting late. We best get back before dusk.”

“I guess you’re right.”
Claire sat up, watching the waterfall for another moment. She stood up and brushed herself off, grinning at Nikoli. “Thank you for bringing me here. It was just what I needed.”

“
I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

On their hike back to the farm Claire moved in front of Nikoli to pass the large boulder he had helped her around previously. Just as she passed the boulder she heard Nikoli or
der “Claire, wait!”

Claire stopped to turn to Nikoli to ask what the matter was when she heard it, right in front of her, moving out from behind the b
oulder. She stood frozen in place as a huge black bear came into view. It reared up on its hind legs, roaring as it teetered towards her. Two small cubs scampered between its legs.

Nikoli scooped Claire up and ran right past the
black bear. The bear gave chase, crashing down the path. Nikoli realized the bear wasn’t giving up and placed Claire down on the path roughly, pushing her from behind.

“GO!” h
e yelled over the noise of the charging bear. “I’ll catch up!” With that he stood to face the oncoming mother black bear.

Claire ran for all she was worth, thinking Nikoli was right behind her. She stopped when she reached the mouth of the path. She leaned over with her hands on her knees as she struggled to catch her breath. Fear washed over her, icy and for
eboding- where was Nikoli?

Claire waited. Her breathing returned to normal over the minutes that passed though her fear increased. She felt nauseous with worry. What if Nikoli was seriously injured? What if the bear had killed him? He had drank human blood in the wee hours of the morning before he demonstrated how he healed, but was it enough for him now? As the minutes ticked by Claire became increasingly sick with fear. That’s it-
she was going to find him.